Vizio Enters Windows 8 Tablet Fray

Vizio, one of the top television makers in the U.S., entered the PC market with a bevy of sleek designs that echoed its television roots. Now, it wants to put out equally appealing Windows 8 tablets too.

The company, which has made tablets based on Google 's Android mobile operating system for the past couple of years, said it will be releasing a line of tablets based on Microsoft 's Windows 8 operating system, which is designed to work with both computers and tablets.

Rob Kermode, head of the Irvine, Calif., company’s PC and mobile device efforts, acknowledged that Vizio’s offerings were coming months after some other companies had released their Windows 8 tablets in late October. But, he said, Vizio chose to wait until the Consumer Electronics Show to make announcements because it was watching how customers would respond.

“We want to know what consumers want and what they’re using,” he said.

Vizio’s Windows 8 tablets have screens that measure 11.6-inches diagonally and are powered by Advanced Micro Device’s Z60 processor. This allows Vizio’s tablet to run older programs on Windows 8, such as Apple’s iTunes and Intuit 's Quicken.

Microsoft’s first PC, the Surface tablet, isn’t capable of doing that because it uses a different microprocessing engine–based on technology from ARM Holdings–and a software variant for such chips called Windows RT. That distinction, and its lack of compatibility with many older programs, is something Kermode said hampers the Surface’s appeal.

“From an RT perspective, there are some things in terms of support of that ecosystem that raise questions,” he said. “It’s a lot more convoluted.” By comparison, he said, customers won’t be confused by his tablet’s capabilities.

Another selling point, Vizio said, is that its computers don’t have any other apps installed on them, like trial software and advertisements for other company’s products. The tablet should be available within the next three months.

Vizio is also updating its computer line, which was first unveiled this time last year, and began shipping in the summer. Vizio’s newest laptops sport the same sleek aluminum look, but now can carry AMD processors, the ability to display more advanced visually rich graphics, and touchscreens to interact with Windows 8.

Kermode said all of Vizio’s computers going forward will have touchscreens to accommodate the new software and avoid confusion from customers who attempt to swipe their fingers across the screen.

The company also attempted to refine the laptop to respond to criticisms from the last year. In particular, he said the trackpads have new technology in them and battery life has been doubled, though he declined to say how long the computers now last.

“One of our challenges is how you balance these competing ideas with the thinnest and lightest computer and a beautiful screen,” he said, adding that Vizio will focus on battery life and audio quality as two standout features for its devices.